There can be little doubt that it was _a new star_. In the first place a new star is no unusual phenomenon. In the second place the tradition is well supported by ancient Christian writers. One speaks of its “surpassing brightness.” Another (IGNATIUS, Bp. of Antioch, A.D. 69) says, “At the appearance of the Lord a star shone forth brighter than all the other stars.” IGNATIUS, doubtless, had this from those who had actually seen it! PRUDENTIUS (4th cent. A.D.) says that not even the morning star was so fair. Archbishop Trench, who quotes these authorities, says “This star, I conceive, as so many ancients and moderns have done, to have been a new star in the heavens.” One step more places this new star in the constellation of COMA, and with new force makes it indeed “His star”—the “Sign” of His “coming forth from Bethlehem.” Will it be “the sign of the Son of Man in heaven” (Matt. xxiv. 30) when He shall “come unto” this world again to complete the wondrous prophecies written of Him in the heavenly and earthly Revelations?(34) Thus does the constellation of COMA reveal that the coming “Seed of the woman” was to be a child born, a son given. But He was to be more: He was to be God and man—two natures in one person! This is the lesson of the next picture. 2. CENTAURUS (The Centaur). _The Despised Sin‐offering_. It is the figure of a being with two natures. Jamieson, in his _Celestial Atlas_, 1822, says, “On the authority of the most accomplished Orientalist of our own times, the Arabic and Chaldaic name of this constellation is בזה.” Now this Hebrew word _Bezeh_ (and the Arabic _Al Beze_) means _the despised_. It is the very word used of this Divine sufferer in Isa. liii. 3, “He is DESPISED (נִבְזֶה) and rejected of men.” [Illustration] Plate 3: Centaurus (the Centaur) The constellation contains thirty‐five stars. Two of the 1st magnitude, one of the 2nd, six of the 3rd, nine of the 4th, etc., which, together with the four bright stars in the Cross make a brilliant show in southern latitudes. The brightest star, α (in the horse’s fore‐foot), has come down to us with the ancient name of _Toliman_, which means _the heretofore and hereafter_, marking Him as the one “which is, and which was, and which is to come—the Almighty” (Rev. i. 8). Sir John Herschell observed this star to be growing rapidly brighter. It may be, therefore, one of the changeable stars, and its name may be taken as an indication of the fact that it was known to the ancients. Another name for the constellation was in Hebrew, _Asmeath_, which means a _sin‐offering_ (as in Isa. liii. 10).